Alleged theft of Harpenden Green Belt protest banners

A campaign group fighting a proposed school on Harpenden’s Green Belt is “gutted” after two large banners highlighting its opposition have allegedly been stolen.

Members of the Right School Right Place group have asked Herts Police to investigate Monday’s overnight theft of the vinyl banners that had been placed on two private properties along Lower Luton Road.

The alleged theft comes just days after the group installed the banners protesting the proposed siting of a new secondary school on farmland on the corner of Common Lane, off Lower Luton Road.

A spokeswoman said the banners had been bought by residents, and the owners of both properties had given their permission for the banners to be placed adjacent to the road.

She said children who helped unfurl the banners were “gutted” to find them missing on Tuesday morning.

The local group had installed them to send a message to parish, town and district councillors attending a meeting last week with Herts county council over its plan to pave the way for a school.

While residents and councillors have signalled their support for a new school, there has been division in the community over its proposed location.

David Cairns, chairman of the group, urged anyone with information about the banners’ disappearance to contact the police.